Spatangus Gray, 1825

Spatangus multispinus Mortensen

• Mortensen, Th., Vid. Medd. dansk naturh. For., 79, p. 413.

Material Examined: Sixty-three specimens from deep water, apart from shelf specimens which are not listed: 435 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 77, fragments; 400 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 96, 1 small specimen; 250–350 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 53, 30 specimens; 330 fathoms, Station 41, Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition, 1 specimen; 290 fathoms, Chatham Rise, Station 59, Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition, 2 specimens; 280 fathoms, Chatham Rise, Station 7, 18 specimens; 260 fathoms, Chatham Rise, Station 52, 10 specimens; 220 fathoms, Chatham Rise, Station 6, 1 specimen.

Remarks: Until now, the only specimen for which a precise locality and depth had been recorded was one taken in 20 fathoms off Cape Campbell (Fell, 1952, p. 35); Mortensen's type was received by him without details. It is now evident, from the rich material listed above, that the species is decidedly a deep-water one, and that the odd specimens we have received from the Cook Strait shelf are probably derived from the deep-water population near at hand. As Mortensen (1951) points out, Spatangus multispinus is closely related to S. raschi Lovén, of European seas, differing mainly in having the test more flattened on the aboral side.

Paramaretia Mortensen, 1950

Paramaretia multituberculata Mortensen

• Mortensen, Th., 1950. Vid. Medd. dansk naturh. For., 112, p. 160.

Material Examined: Twenty-five specimens, and fragments of others, from the following deep-water stations: 330 fathoms, Station 41, Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition (specimens are visible in a colour film made at this station, though they are not represented in the collection submitted); 280 fathoms, Chatham Rise, Station 7, Chatham Rise, Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition, 2 specimens; 260 fathoms, Chatham Rise, Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition, 2 specimens; 155 fathoms, Station 40, Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition, 21 specimens.

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Remarks: This is a new record for New Zealand, the species having previously been taken only in Bass Strait. Photographs of the New Zealand form will be given in the official report of the Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition. The "large, but fragmentary Palaeopneustid echinoid" mentioned as having been taken at Discovery Station 2733 (Chatham Rise) (Fell 1952, p. 2) proves to be this species. An unbroken specimen was later sent to me for identification by the Discovery authorities, but was unfortunately broken in transit. The identification, however, is beyond doubt.